Closure for grain containers



Patented 5, 19259 Aren't QFFI Warren, H. tracer-r, or BAKER, MONTANA.

onosunn roa GRAIN CONTAINER-S,

Application filed May 16,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER H. PLATE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Baker, in the county of Fallon and State of llilontana, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Closures for Grain Containers,of which the following is a specilication.

My invention has reference, in its broad aspect, to improvements inclosures for the entrances of grain containers, such as grain cars andthe like, and more particularly it is designed to provide segmentallydisens gageable, and readily attachable and detach able means formounting a series of superposed planks, or the like across such entrancfes whereby to securely and positively seal the same. i

It has been the practice heretofore in sealing up the entrances of graincars, and the like, to nail the closure planks to the frames thereof,but once the planks are so used they are thereafter discarded atconsid'erable loss, While the frames of the entrances become marred andsplit. On the other hand, the planks used in affecting a closure with myinvention are capable of continued usage for the purpose, therebyoccasioning gre'at saving; and the novel means which I employ inmounting the planks may be applied to any grain container, such as agrain car or the like, of conventional type, as a substantiallypermalitiljfltlltmgl] readily attachable and detachable fixture.

Furthermore, my invention affords means, in the form of a segmentalclamping bar, whereby the entranceof a grain container, such as agraincar or the like, may be gradually closed up by the super-inmostlion of plank upon plank, during the process of filling; the same.Likewise, when the car or container is emptied the closure planks may beremoved in their inverse order as the height of the contents isdecreased, thereby facilitating}; the filling and emptying of the car orcontainer, and reducing to a ininimi'nn'the loss of contents during suchoperations;

Inasmuch as types of grain containers are subject to considerablevariation, a novel bracket is employed with. my invention 1923; SerialNo. 639,293:

which is sufficiently standardized to permit of its attachment as afixture to practically all of the known types of containers, therebyadapting my closure to aiviole range of application. I

Still further, and equally important objects of my invention are brieflyas follows; first, the provision of a relatively standard bracket,adapted for utilization as a fixturaand a quickly detachable siniplifiedclamping bar for use with the bracket when the container is to besealed; secend, the provision of, a segmental or sec tional clamping barwhich may be loosened or tightened up in sections, but which can notthereby be accidentally disengaged as a Whole; third, the provision ofmeans in the form of lateral stops whereby to pre vent the working looseof the closure planks, andi fourth, the provision of a novel clampingelement for the bar which may be operated with facility. I

i' k hile the foregoing distinguishing features and objects of myclosure may be considered as the most apparent from the standpoint ofgeneral construction and arrangement of parts, other and equallyimportant objects and advantages exist by virtue of the novel detailedconstruction of the separate elements thereof, and for this reason theabove and other results and objects will be hereinafter more fullydescribed in detail and specifically pointed out in the claims tippended hereunto, and forming a part of this specification; p

In the accompanying, drawings, wherein is illustrated the preferredembodiment of my invention 1 Figure 1, is a front elevation, partlybroken aivay, showing my invention as applied to the conventional entrance of a grain container,

l! are .2, is an enlarged sectiolmlside View showing thevarious,elements of my clamping device, and bracket, as applied to aplank closure, and Figure 3, a top plan view of the bracket, per so,used with my clamp.

Like characters of reference refer to like or similar parts throughoutthe several views of the drawings, in which (A) designates theconventional entrance of a grain container, such as a grain ar or thelike, which is formed with the usual frame (B), adjoining which are theside walls (C) and floor or sill (D). All of these are conventional inconstruction and are here shown for the sake of illustration. Theclosure for the entrance. (A) is one which contemplates thesuper-imposition, edge to edge, of a series of planks across theentrance, whereby to completely seal the same. v

Arranged at equal intervals upon the sides of the frame (B), from apoint adjacent the top to a point adjacent the bottom thereof, are aplurality of brackets, here shown three in number for each side. Eachbracket is a unitary casting, and all are identical in construction andfunction.

Each bracket is formed with a base (1) and a head (2), connected withthe base by a web It will be noted that the head (2) extends out fromone end of the base, and is parallel to the base, while the web (3) isformed at right-angles to both the head and the base. Rising from themedial, longitudinal line of both the base and the head is areinforcingweb t) the edges of which are curved to present a desirable profile.Formed in the base (1) are a plurality of openings (5) which are adaptedfor the re ception of securing bolts to mount the bracket, and formed inthe head (2) is an opening (6), the purpose of which will be hereinaftermade apparent. The reinforcing web t) is enlarged to form arcinlorecwent about the opening (6) as shown in Figure 3. 'llhesebrackets are ilesin'ned to form a relatively permanent fixture oncontainers for grain, such as grain cars, and the like.

Adapted for disposition beneath the heads (2) of the cooperatingbrackets on each side of the frame are clanuping' bars, which are formedwith angle-iron sections (7) conn ,cted at their meeting ends by hingesAnd in mounting the bars they are disposed with their flanged portions(9) directed toward the frame (B), and adjacent'the webs (3) of thebrackets. thereby enclosing the ends of the planks (E) to prevent theirdislodgnient- Attention is called to the fact that the brackets preventboth horizontal and lateral displacement of the bars. Each clamping barhas welded, or otherwise secured thereto, adjacent, and normally beneaththe hinged portions thereof, a plurality of screw-threaded studs 10),which are adapted to extend within the openings (6) in the brackets asshown in Figure 2. Mounted on each stud is a hexagonal nut (11) and asuperposed washer (12), so that by manipulating the nuts, the studs willbe fed into or out of the openings (6) to cause the bar to release orclamp down upon the planks (E). Inasmuch as each of the clamping bars isformed with hinged sections, portions of the plank closure can beremoved by unclamping corresponding; segments or sections of the bars,thereby facilitating the operations of emptying or filling, thecontainer.

In operation the nuts (11) are sIreWed down close to the bases of thestuds so that the clamping bars may be manipulated to receive theplanks, and as the closure grandnally completed as the container istilled up, the corresponding sections of the bars are clamped down tightupon the ends of the planks. In emptying the container the order ofprocedure is usually reversed. lVhile the brackets are designed asbefore stated, to form a relatively permanent fix .tnre on a grain caror other container, the

clamping bars and planks are employed only when necessary, i. e., whenthe car or container is filled with grain or the like. Thus they may bestored or kept at the place where grain is usually unloaded or shipped.The clamping elements and brackets forming my invention may be cheaplyand quickly manufactured from standard stock, and the few separate partsmay be replaced when they become worn or broken, consequently myinvention forms a practical expedient in the transportation of grain andthe like, and insures the conservation of the planks forming theclosure, as well as of the bodies of grain cars which have heretoforebeen marred or split by nailed up closures.

lVhile in the foregoing, there has been illustrated and described such cm1hinati m and arrangement of elements as constitute the preferredembodiment of my invention, it is nevertheless desired to emphasize thefact that interpretatimi of the invention should only be conclusive whenmade in the light of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, and its objects with such attention todetail as will thoroughly acquaint one skilled in the art with itsconstruction and advantages, 1 claim l. A device of the type describedcomprising a plurality of ltirackets, each formed with a head providedwith an. opening; therein, a bar formed with pivolally coir nectedsections adapted for removable engagement beneath the head of each ofthe brackets, studs formed on the bar and receivable in the openings inthe heads, and means carried by the studs for adjusting the pressureexerted by the bar upon an object or objects therebeneath.

2. A device of the type described comprising a plurality of brackets,each formed with a head provided with an opening therein, a barreceivable beneath the heads of the brackets, studs formed on the bar,and. means carried by the studs and operable upon the heads foradjusting the pressure exerted by the bar upon an object or objectstherebeneath.

3. A device of the type described comprising fixed supporting members,each formed with an overhanging head, a bar adapted for removableengagement beneath the heads of the supporting members, attachingmembers carried by the bar and engageable with the heads of thesupporting members, and

adjustable'means carried by the attaching members and engageable withthe heads for regulating the pressure exerted by the bar upon an objector objects therebeneath.

at. A device of the character described comprising a plurality ofbrackets having base portions for attachment to the side frames of a cardoor, each bracket being provided with a head spaced from, parallel to,and overhanging one of the ends of the base thereof and connected withthe base by a Web, a bar receivable beneath the heads of the brackets,screw threaded studs formed on the bar and engageable with the heads,

and a nut on each stud adapted to engage the heads for regulating thepressure exerted by the bar upon an object or objects therebeneath.

5. A device of the character described comprising a plurality ofbrackets having base portions for attachment to the side frames of a cardoor, each bracket being provided with a head spaced from andoverhanging one of the ends of the base, a bar receivable beneath theheads of the brackets, studs formed on the bar and engageable with theheads, a nut on each stud adapted to engage the head for adjusting thepressure exerted by the bar on an object or objects therebeneath, andsaid bar being formed with a flange for preventing engagement of theobjects therebeneath with the brackets and to hold said objects againstlateral displacement.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature hereto.

WALTER H. PLATH.

